Device for foot protection



July 12, 1932.

A. A. STRAUSS DEVICE FOR FOOT PROTECTION Filed NOV. 4, 1930 Bummer Patented July 12, 1932 UNITED STATES ALBERT A. STRAUSS, OF PITrsBuRGH, PENNSYLVANIA DEVICE FOR roori'rltoa'Ectrron.

Application filed November 4, 19a; Saa No. 493.427.

This invention relates in general to shoe guards, and in particular to that type of shoe guard worn by steel workers and others engaged in kindred occupations.

In many places where workers are employed heavy weights are handled which are sometimes dropped on the feet of the workers and thus effect much injury. In other places molten metal is handled and is prone to splash on the workers feet and stick to the instep and toe portions thus inflicting bad burns.

Among the objects of the present inventlon are to provide a novel and eflicient shoe guard including a metal shield covering the instep and toe and to so arrange the metal shield that it will at all times be supported throughout its extent free from the shoe to which it is applied; to provide such a shield with a longitudinal strengthening rib; and to pro vide a flexible support for the shield arranged to distribute the shock due to a falling body all over the front part of the wearers foot so as to minimize the local effect of such falling body.

With the above and other objects in view one embodiment of the. invention will now be described in detail and specifically claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device applied to a shoe.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the device.

Figure 3 is a section on the line 33 of Figure 2 with the device applied to a shoe.

In the embodiment of the invention here disclosed there is provided a rigid metal shield 5, preferably formed from a single piece of sheet metal having side edges 10 converging from the rear or instep portion-of the shield to the front or toe portion thereof. The front edge 11 of the shield is convexly curved and the rear edge 12 is concavely curved, as is shown in Figure 2. This metal sheet is arched transversely throughout its length. The lateral arched portions 13 thus formed, are united to a central arched portion 14 by reversely curved portions 15. The central arched portion 14 is more abrupt- 1y arched than the lateral portions 13 so that this central arched portionforms a longitudinally extending strengthening rib. It will be noted from Figure 3 that the metallic shield-is of greater Width than the shoe S to which it is appl-ied. The rear edge l2'is upwardly curved as in Figure 1 to prevent cutting of the shoeor foot in case the shield is forcibly driven backwards. 1 a r .In connection with this shield there is employed a flexible member 16 of leather or other suitable material which conforms in generalshape to the shield but is of greater width'thanthe latter andprojects rearwardly from beneath the shield. Rivets 17 secure the side portionsof the shield to the flexible member 16: adjacent its side edges but the member 16' is maintained sufliciently taut between the riveted' portions so that the shield arches up fromthe flexible member as shown in Figure '3. Thus, the flexible member con tacts with the upper'forward part of the shoe, whilethenietallic shield is heldin spaced relation thereto throughout. Under these conditions a blowireceived anywhere on the shield will not be localized on a definitepart of the .footof the wearerbut will, by the flexible and somewhat yieldable member, be well distributed. 1 I

An instep strap 18 extends laterally from one side of the member 16 at its rear and is arranged to pass beneath the arch of the shoe S andto have its end received by a ioning member secured to'the under side of a said shield and interposed between the shield and the shoe when in position, said cushioning member maintaining the shield spaced from the shoe at all points, and means for securing the guard to a shoe.

2. A shoe guard including a metallic shield adapted to fit over the instep-portion of a shoe and having a width greater than the shoe, a flexible fabric member secured adja-' cent its side edges to the side edges of the metallic shield and adapted to rest on the shoe, said shield being held away from the shoe by said member and being'arched to lie in spaced relation to the member above the shoe, and means to secure the member in pe si tion on the shoe.

3. A shoe guard including a metallic shield adapted to fit over the instep-portion-of a shoe and having a width greater than the shoe, a flexible fabric member secured adja cent its side edges to'the side edges of the metallic shield and adapted to rest on the shoe, said shield being held away from the shoe by said member and being transversely arched upwardly from the memberbetween the attached portion of the guard and member, and means to secure the member in position on the shoe.

4. A shoe guard including a metallic shield -;adapted to fit over the instep portion of a shoe and having a width greater than the shoe, a flexible fabric'member secured adja-' cent its side edges to the side edges ofthe metallic shield and adapted to rest on the 4 shoe, said shield being held away. from. the 1 shoe by said member and being transversely arched upwardly from the member between the attached portion of the guard'and member, the central portion of the shield being more abruptly arched than the lateral p ortionsto form a longitudinally extending stifliening rib, and means t'o'sec'ure the member in position on the shoe. i

5. A shoe guard including a metallic shield adapted'to fit over the instep portion of a shoe and having a width greater than the shoe, a 'fiexible fabric member secured adjacent its side edges to the side edges of themetallic shield and adapted to rest on the shoe, said member and shield being arranged a to project forwardlyover and to completely coverxthe toe ofthe shoe, said shield being 7 held away from the shoe by said member and being arched to lie in spaced relation to the member above the shoe, and means to secure 7 the member inposition' on the shoe.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature,

' ALBERT A. STRAUSS. 

